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Bold striped blazers were big last year and they are still making a fabulous statement for Spring. But my eye has wondered away from the striped blazer and it is making a beeline for the soft patterned versions that are emerging as Spring collections unfold.

Soft printed blazers were love at first sight when I first spotted them at Barneys, Urban Outfitters and Zara this year. There is something about a printed floral blazer that screams Spring to me. They are soft, lightweight and fairly floppy, feeling a lot like a fully lined blouse with extra structure. Floral prints are rife, but you’ll find polka dots, stars, animal print and conversational prints too. They are perfect for our cool Seattle Springs and Summers, providing a warm weather look with the coverage. Makes a nice change to a cotton cardigan don’t you think?

Printed Spring Blazers have mostly been matched with short shorts, but they are going to work with skirts, trousers, clamdiggers, cropped pants, longer shorts and jeans too — just like a regular blazer.

I saw the black and grey floral blazer pictured below at Zara last week when out and about at the New York City YLF gathering. I tried it on, and it was mine. It was hung close to a scarf printed blouse in similar colours, which went home with me too because I had the idea of wearing these pieces together. I see that Zara had the same idea and styled that exact same blouse with my floral jacket on their website.

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No thanks. This is a look I will need much more time to get used to. I think I would rather wear this type of pattern in a dress, skirt or soft pants with a solid colored blazer. I am sure others will be bolder than me

Angie I wore something like this in the 90’s! The cut of these however are much sharper and contemporary. I would definitely consider trying this look for spring. I particularly like the spotted jacket.

I like the dotted and starred ones, but that floral shown with the green skirt makes me think of everything that was wrong with the 1980s, both in color and print. Anthropologie has a cute little cream one with a tiny bee print that I’d totally get if they had it in my size.

hmm, I’m totally a sucker for bee prints but otherwise I am shuddering. Suddenly all the merchandise in thrift stores is au courant. I’m glad my environs are anything but fashionable because I couldn’t take seeing streets full of these again. I’d better hide my eyes when I pass the school parking lot. The teachers are the only ones who “dress.”
I confess I own one of these: a bright navy with tiny white confetti print and some bits of coral. Fits like a dream. Have never worn it out of the house once – lightweight lined blazers have no season here.

omigosh. I haven’t found the Anthro bee blazer yet but I did just see their Honeyed Life shirtdress. This is the exact print and colorway of my one and only favorite dress as a child, in the early 50’s. I insisted on wearing it for a family photograph so it is memorialized. I always thought it was flies and still think it looks that way. WoW. If you live long enough your second childhood really does come around.

Looks fun to me! I’m very tempted. I’ve been buying things in solid colours for a while now so I’m rather excited by the idea of some serious pattern. I can imagine the black and white floral Zara one over a few things I own so will be heading there to try it and some others on.

My eye is starting to adjust to the idea of more advanced pattern mixing too and I am even tempted to dip my toe in the water there at some point.

These speak to me. This is a trend I see myself trying. I like almost all of these and can picture them in my wardrobe. The only one I struggle with is the toile… I am intrigued, but would have to try it on with an outfit first.

I can totally see myself getting into this. However, I think I’ll stick to the geometric patterns or the florals in neutrals. The florals in pastel colors remind too much of my grandmother’s furniture and the Laura Ashley dresses of the 70s/80s.

Hmm. I’m not loving this one. The soft cut and drape is a nice alternative to structured blazers, but I worry that the prints will become dated very fast. The star and animal print are cute if you like whimsy. But, like sarah, I’m getting a Laura Ashley / upholstery vibe from the floral prints.

I own only two blazers right now–a brown tweed and a simple black one–so I’ll keep my eyes open for another more classic (maybe colored) blazer rather than a print one.

I actually have a floral-printed winter jacket that I love, so that’s an easy transition for me in terms of getting my eye in. Pity there is no jacket-friendly spring around here! Simply can’t justify purchasing one.

That said, I’m having a harder time getting on board with the stars and animal prints — feels a tad too 80s for me, and I’m wary of wearing anything I wore once as a teen! (Not a ‘never’, just a ‘maybe not’.) I like the lightheartedness of the polka-dot pattern, though.

Yep, love these! I spotted the polka dot blazer from Zara online a few days ago and it’s on my list of things to check out in person (since Zara’s quality can be hit or miss in my experience). I’m currently trying to find interesting alternatives to cotton cardigans for summer layering and these totally seem to fit the bill.

Wow – little did I know I was going to be right on trend when about a month ago I bought a 1960’s vintage flowy jacket in a tomato-red-white-polka-dot fabric very similar in style to the black and white jacket at the bottom left. I love the idea of patterned jackets just to change things up a bit!

For the past month I have been on the hunt for a floral and/or polka dot blazer(s). I love wearing blazers and this seem so fresh. I even like the floral pantsuit look, but will probably do the print mixing of top and blazer instead. I’ve had my eye on the blazer from Zara, but am uncertain about the sizing. Seeing your post has given me the motivation to finally make this purchase!

I like the animal print one. I could see a soft blazer being the perfect thing for cold summer air condiditoning. The knitted-fabric versions are especially comfortable, and give more structure than a cardigan. Nice!

I would LOVE the polka dot, the floral, and the animal print one…on someone else : ) It’s taken me this long to find a solid blazer that I love, so I will need time to adjust to the idea of a printed one on me. In the meantime I hope to enjoy them on others.

This is a neat trend and the blazers are lovely, and really comfy, almost like wearing a knit, but for me a really bold look. They are real attention grabbers! I think my eye needs to adjust to the look. And how neat is it that the blazer you picked up was styled the same way on the Zara website!? Now that is fab!

*scratching head* Is that third blazer with the floral print the same one we saw in NYC? I thought it had a blue background, not a black background.

I am falling behind on the trends, I just purchased a kelly green blazer this weekend and have been mulling over how to wear it all morning. I’m not ready for printed one’s yet!

Now see, here is another example of something that I have conditioned myself to automatically catalog as frumpy, but now I have to reprogram my filter. I love the polka dot one, but with the florals all I hear in my head is ‘If it looks like your grandmother’s sofa (or drapes) steer clear.” I promise to try some on though this season

Honestly I don’t know. At this point it neither Nay or Yay for me. I have to try them on and do some planning in my closet to see if they work for me or not. For now bold colored blazer is more of my thing!

Yay! I love the prints on these, and the softer fabrication really appeals to me as well from both a comfort and fit perspective (I have a lot of issues with traditional blazers being too stiff, boxy, or long for me and softer fabrications tend to drape a lot more nicely on my body). I am excited to try some on!

Hmm. I could see the star and animal print jackets with some cool wraparound scarves in contrasting colours. But really … I think they’re a not-so-versatile fad. Get a cheapish one that can be abandoned in time or a really gorgeous pricey one that transcends the moment to wear till the cows come home.

I’ll pass and probably wear my solid ones with scarves in the patterns shown. Coward, I know. But with savings.

I can get behind this, as I love prints and i have been discovering my persona as Queen Jacket.

If I find the right print, fabrication and fit, I’ll jump on board. That black and white polka dot that I tried on in NYC was close, wasn’t it, Angie? But I’m glad you identified the problem with it — I’m now keeping my eye out for a better option!

Hmm…I have a few plaid jackets, but all the others are solid. I’m not sure I’m bold enough to try a floral or an animal print. I might go for a very subtle geometric print like a small polka dot.

Boden had some fab animal print velvet blazers last Fall, but I wasn’t brave enough to give them a whirl!

I used to own some sleeveless cotton gillets from India that had very colorful block-printed patterns. I think Kirti has something similar. I only wore them rarely, and always open with a solid color underneath….. to tame them down! Just wasn’t my style.

I like these, but have a feeling the prints I’ve seen so far are a little twee for me. I would love one in something that looks tribal without looking kitschy. I love the scarf print blouse with the geometric way they’ve laid out the pattern though. Can’t say I am not tempted.

Thanks for this post. These look promising. I’ve been having trouble with regular blazers — I think it’s a combination of the structured feeling of them, plus getting my eye adjust to the squareness of the shoulders. They look great on others, but they always make me feel like I have man shoulders. But a soft blazer might be just the transitional thing! As for the prints, it would have to be the right one. As Elly says, some are too twee. The animal print ones aren’t, but animal print is really not my thing. Maybe a polka dot one?

I think I will pass this decade of my life:). I actually thought I wore this trend out in the 80’s And early 90’s yet here it is back again! I used to love this look , seems if I have done a trend to death I am less inclined to embrace it decades later…even if it worked for me.

In the late 80s and 90s I had several silk print jackets that I wore a lot. One, an Anne Klein II jacket, (anyone remember that great bridge line?) was a black and red print that I wore for ten years before the lining wore out. I wore it a lot and have longed for something like that again. Those jackets had bigger shoulder pads though, and I had a different body then. So I’d say I’m open to trying the less structured styles–but I will have to try each one on.

Oh, Angie, I can already see you in that beautiful printed blazer and blouse. I also like the printed sheath skirt Zara shows with it online. That would be a nice trio!

While, I mostly feel stylish, when I read about these trends, there’s a part of me that has to be dragged (by you), kicking and screaming into the future. It takes me a moment!

So, I’m at the reluctant stage, because I presently have two silk floral blazers, that are lovely, but I seldom wear. One is cream with bright green and pink flowers and the other is a subtle copper with a more muted design. These were purchased by a friend, who hated shopping for herself, but loved shopping for me. I guess I was her “doll.” But, I was a happy recipient!

Vildy, I just had to look at your childhood favorite and immediately went to the Anthro site! Very nice. Janet, what was the problem you and Angie identified with your NYC jacket? This may help me when I shop for “any” blazer or jacket. As for the selections, above, right now, I’m on the sidelines taking it all in.

The floral printed blazers always have seemed dowdy to me – like wearing drapery fabric. I haven’t seen an exception here. If a size 4 model looks dowdy, no way I’m going to pull it off. The polka dots might work better, just not for me.

I do like that last one, but in general I’m not sold on the idea. I’m actually not liking most of the spring trends very much- just too much going on for me right now. I am hard at work replacing my summer dress and flat sandal collection, and looking for shorts and sleeveless tops.

It’s so interesting how “dowdy” and “frumpy” have been used to describe the floral blazers. And I understand the upholstery connotation too. Why is it then that to my eye, the floral blazers look fresh and modern?

Queen Mum, your perspectives are always amusing and positive

Thanks, Diana! I haven’t had a chance to play with my new blazer and blouse yet but I’m excited at the prospect. And I can totally see *you* in a floral blazer.

Vicki, I bet you are the best dress up doll for your friend. Perhaps it’s the particular patterns and prints of your floral blazers that are giving you pause. I’d love to see them on the forum. Perhaps we can kick start their fashion life.

Janet, yes! That polka dot blazer was almost there but the fit was a little off in the torso.

Lisa, I look forward to seeing your green-blazer-outfit and perhaps a printed blazer in your future.

No. I would feel upholstered. I have no problem with a soft, less structured jacket, though I’d rather have it in a bright solid color. As far as patterns go, a houndstooth or a plaid is fine, but florals and and other patterns, like the ones pictured read twee (or worse) writ large, at least on me.

The flowered blazer in black and white is fine, but I really dislike the colored flowers. It looks very 80s grandma to me, too! And while I kind of like the “antique” print (the “scenic” blazer), I think it is way OTT with the matching shorts.

The others are ok, but I could only see myself wearing the stars, polka dots, or the monochrome flowers. Maybe the cheetah print, with jeans and heels, if I were going to a nightclub. The rest of my outfit would have to look a lot sharper than my current looks in order to pull it off, though!

I actually do have a soft jacket in a giraffe pattern, which I bought several years ago at Macy’s and never wore until this fall. I loved it. Didn’t feel upholstered at all. And it was YLF that gave me the courage to wear it! So there you go. I should know by now—never say never!

I like the star print blazer! These are a fresh and fun change from neutral solids. Reminiscent of the 80s too – I had a very colourful newsprint blazer and a few floral print and polka dot blouses. There were countless crazy prints back then! The fact that the new versions are soft and comfy yet structured is a huge plus. I’d definitely check them out and see if I fall for a particular print!

LOVE the idea of printed jackets! I have one from Rachel Rachel Roy that I enjoy wearing, and I tried on a gorgeous one at Zara last month (sort of looked like a computer-generated or digital print, if that makes any sense) but the fit was totally bad. I really like all of the ones you’ve shown, except the toile one from Asos–too sweet for me. I actually just bought a knee-length print overcoat for spring, so I guess I am officially on board the patterned coat bandwagon :). None of these remind me of the ’80s; they seem fresh and modern to my eye.

Love this look!!! Maybe it is because until the last few months I haven’t done any real shopping since the ’80s? I almost always wear dark solids on the bottom and have mostly solid tops. A printed jacket would be a great way to bring in a pattern, particularly when it is too warm to wear one of my zillion scarves. To me, a print feels less masculine/serious, so that aspect really appeals to me. Finally, a printed sleeve won’t show grubbiness so quickly, as grub seems to seek me out.

This is a huge trend here too!
Now that I’m on a SYC challenge, I’m a bit more conscious about some trends that it won’t last more then a season.
As I can’t shop until June, I think I will let this trend pass!

I like it! Well, I like them except when too matchy like the fourth one pictured. There I would wear a solid pant. I’m not sure I’m ready to jump in with both feet yet, but I just bought a black suit with tiny white dots on it – which does look nice as a matching set. I also purchased a black jacket with the patterned lining that shows with the sleeves rolled back. Does that count as a printed jacket?

Yay for me! I saw the black and white top and blazer on Angie and she looks amazing in both! I thought I recognized the third blazer as the one that Lisa tried on. I hope you are able to track it down, Lisa.

I like them! When I first read just the words “soft printed blazers” in the headline I thought I wouldn’t like them – I imagined soft drapy fabrics (e.g. silk) and long jackets that would remind me of the pyjama tops (similar to some of the printed pants that are trending and that I don’t care for). But these are structured and tailored, and I given I love prints I can totally see this and in fact now crave one! Mine would be on the shorter side, shaped more like the last one above (though not in animal print – I have enough of that for a while). Maybe something in an abstract floral print. It definitely has to look funky, not romantic. Intriguing! Thanks Angie – and I can’t wait to see you in the Zara blouse and blazer, they look super!

Hmmm. I have to say my vote is no. Though I voted no to myself on skinny (or very thin) jeans awhile back, and now I wear them. And flares before that! Who knows, tomorrow I may flip-flop?!?!

But my reason is the same as given by many above: dreaded 80’s flashback. It’s kind of hard for me to make the transition from memories of bad, big hair, and giganto rose chintz dresses with puffy shoulders, to see the flowered blazers as “fresh”. Is it because I am older than many of you? Not sure, but fear of frump does tend to become a bigger factor in fashion analysis as I age.

But I can really see the black and white flower one (my favorite) on Angie and the picture in my mind is stunning! Angie, what will you wear it with?

There, Angie, you’ve made it fresh in my mind by describing how you would wear it in a non-frump way!

Until you said white bottoms, all I could picture was a long dull skirt or matching pleated, tapered pants, long hair with big curly bangs, flat pointed pastel shoes… It is very hard to divorce a retro idea from the whole retro story, but now I see more possibilities. Thanks!

I immediately loved the idea of these softer, lighter blazers, Angie. Today I visited Zara, and I have to say I am now even more enthusiastic. In fact, I’m absolutely smitten with them. I didn’t expect the fabric to be so super soft and drapey. Floppy and structured at the same time. Just gorgeous, and pure genius for warmer weather.

The grey and black floral blazer is stunning. I keep thinking it should remind me of upholstery too, but for anyone who’s having doubts: it really does work irl. There’s something very modern and strong about the pattern. If you have a chance to try it on, don’t hesitate.

I don’t wear jackets often enough to warrant buying a print one. I love my solids in black, navy, red, white, khaki….but no prints or patterns. Oh, I take that back: I do own a seersucker tan/white stripe from J Crew.